The rebuild of Manchester United could definitely take some time, so get ready and dig your heels in for that. The upshot is that we’ll have a summer transfer window filled with many comings and goings.
And with Manchester United linked to approximately 97,324 players already, the time is right for some Red Devils transfer talk. In this edition, we’ll cover one player from each outfield position group. As you may have heard, United need a lot of help in the back line, especially in the central portion, so we’ll start there.
To their credit, the club has been aggressive and persistent in their quest to upgrade at centre back, but they just can’t seem to close any deals. Once such example is Tottenham Hotspur man Toby Alderweireld- we heard about United’s pursuit of him ad nauseam last summer, and nothing actually happened.
Well, hopefully we won’t have to endure that much ado about absolutely nothing again this summer as the Daily Mail reports Alderweireld intends to snub United’s interest, and stay at White Hart Lane.
“My only focus is Spurs,” Alderweireld said.
“Because of this focus I think I had a good season as well. I have one year left on my contract, so in my head, I will play for Spurs next season.”
Alderweireld’s deal includes a release clause worth £25 million.
Moving up to the middle of the park, West Ham’s 20-year-old star Declan Rice has been heavily linked with a move to United this off-season, but as of now there isn’t any there there. Or at least not in the words of Rice, who is now preparing for England duty in the UEFA Nations League.
Rice has played down the narratives linking him with Old Trafford.
“I know there is speculation,” he said today.
“During the season last year I signed a five-year contract with West Ham. My focus is fully on playing for West Ham. I’ve got a great connection with the fans — I love them, they love me.
“That’s the way it is at the moment. I’m not thinking about anything else.”
Finally, according to transfermarketweb.com, United are “dreaming of signing” superstar striker Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich. The Polish powerhouse recently became the highest foreign goalscorer in Bundesliga history.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.